What is God really like? What attributes does he have? Why are they important for us to know?
So, You Just Became A Christian
September 1, 2022
If you’ve recently become a Christian, welcome to the family! Here's some encouragement and advice to help you grow in your faith.
Is There Meaning To Life?
Why am I here?
Is there a reason we’re here? Do our lives have any real significance?
Well, that depends on whether or not God exists.
Leibniz’ Contingency Argument
We live in an amazing universe.
Have you ever wondered why it exists?
Why does anything at all exist?
Gottfried Leibniz wrote, “The first question which should rightly be asked is: Why is there something rather than nothing?”
The Kalam Cosmological Argument
Does God exist?
Or is the material universe all that is, or ever was, or ever will be?
One approach to answering this question is the Cosmological Argument.
It goes like this...
Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
The universe began to exist.
Therefore, the universe has a cause.
Is the first premise true? Let's consider...
The Kalam Cosmological Argument
Did the universe have a beginning? Or has it existed from eternity past?
If it DID have a beginning, this raises a question: Did the universe have a Creator?
In PART 1 we explored this question scientifically. Now, let’s look at it philosophically.
Aristotle believed the universe was eternal in the past.
But Al-Ghazali disagreed. He pointed out that if the universe did NOT have a beginning, then the number of past events in the history of the universe is infinite.
But that’s a problem because the existence of an actually infinite number of past events leads to absurdity! It’s metaphysically impossible.
Why?...
The Fine Tuning Argument
From galaxies and stars down to atoms and subatomic particles, the very structure of our universe is determined by THESE numbers
These are the fundamental constants and quantities of the universe.
Scientists have come to the shocking realization that each of these numbers has been carefully dialed to an astonishingly precise value, a value that falls within an exceedingly narrow life-permitting range.
If any one of these numbers were altered by even a hairsbreadth, no physical, interactive life of any kind could exist anywhere.
God & Mathematics
Why does mathematics work?
Think about it... Mathematical entities like numbers, sets, and equations are non-physical and abstract. They can’t cause anything. Yet, for some reason, the physical universe operates...mathematically.
As Galileo put it, “The book of nature is written in the language of mathematics.”
“Scientists do not use mathematics merely as a convenient way of organising the data. They believe that mathematical relationships reflect real aspects of the physical world. Science relies on the assumption that we live in an ordered Universe that is subject to precise mathematical laws. Thus, the laws of physics, ... are all expressed as mathematical equations.” - Paul Davies
So, how do we explain the astonishing applicability of math to the physical world?
The Moral Argument
A short, fully animated video to help you understand the moral argument for God's existence.
The Ontological Argument
In the year 1078 a monk named Anselm of Canterbury astonished the world by arguing that if it is even possible that God exists, then it follows logically that God does exist.
Anselm's argument came to be called the Ontological Argument, and it has sharply divided philosophers ever since.
The Problem of Suffering & Evil
We are all well aware of the suffering and evil in the world: horrific suffering, unthinkable evil.
How then can anyone believe in the existence of an all-loving, all-powerful God? And if God does exist, why would anyone want to worship Him?
Epicurus framed the logical problem of suffering and evil like this:
If God is willing to prevent evil but not able, then he's not all-powerful.
If he is able to prevent evil but not willing, he is not good.
But if he is both willing and able, how can evil exist?
And if he is neither able nor willing, then why call him God?
In other words, it's logically impossible for God and suffering to both exist.
But we know full well that suffering exists.
Therefore, God does not.
Is this a good argument? Let's look at it more closely.
The Problem of Suffering & Evil
It may be logically possible that God and suffering both exist, but is it likely? With so much pointless suffering, it seems unlikely that God could have good reasons for allowing it.
This is the probability version of the problem of evil: Suffering may not prove God's existence is impossible, but it makes God's existence highly unlikely.
Is this a good argument?
Who Did Jesus Think He Was?
Ever since the Christian movement began, followers of Jesus Christ have said he was God ... in human form.
But what about Jesus himself? Who did he think he was?
Did Jesus Rise From The Dead?
Why was Jesus of Nazareth crucified?
Because he made outrageous claims about himself. He claimed... to be the one and only Son of God.
Why would anyone take his claim seriously?
Well, that all depends...
If Jesus actually rose from the dead, then his claim to be God’s unique Son carries considerable weight. On the other hand, if the resurrection never actually happened, then Jesus may be safely dismissed as just another interesting, but tragic, historical figure.
Did Jesus rise from the dead?
As we explore this question, we need to address two further questions: what are the facts that require explanation? and which explanation best accounts for these facts?
There are three main facts that need to be explained: The discovery of Jesus’ empty tomb ... the appearances of Jesus alive after his http://death...and the disciples’ belief... that Jesus rose from the dead.
Did Jesus Rise From The Dead?
Why was Jesus of Nazareth crucified?
Because he made outrageous claims about himself. He claimed... to be the one and only Son of God.
Why would anyone take his claim seriously?
Well, that all depends...
If Jesus actually rose from the dead, then his claim to be God’s unique Son carries considerable weight. On the other hand, if the resurrection never actually happened, then Jesus may be safely dismissed as just another interesting, but tragic, historical figure.
Did Jesus rise from the dead?
As we explore this question, we need to address two further questions: what are the facts that require explanation? and which explanation best accounts for these facts?
There are three main facts that need to be explained:
The discovery of Jesus’ empty tomb.
The appearances of Jesus alive after his death.
And the disciples’ belief that Jesus rose from the dead.
